Southern Army Commander Lt Gen JS Nain laid wreath at the War Memorial in Pune on the occasion of 74th Army Day on Saturday. Army Day is celebrated every year on 15 January to mark the occasion when the first Indian general took over the command of the Indian Army from a British officer. On this day in 1949, Lieutenant General and later Field Marshal KM Cariappa took over as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from Lieutenant General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British Commander-in-Chief.
On the occasion of 74th Army Day, officers and soldiers of Southern Command took a pledge to uphold the glorious traditions of the Indian Army and uphold the integrity and security of the nation. A press statement by the Southern Command said.
The release further read, “The Army Commander extended his best wishes to all ranks, veterans, Veer Naris and their family members on the auspicious occasion and re-engaged himself for the task of defense and defense of the motherland from all ranks of Southern Command.” He also assured the commitment of Southern Command for continuous assistance to civilians in times of any calamity or natural calamity.